Systemless Villain

Chapter 206  In the Heart of Tianzhou

Long Tian stepped into the school office, greeted by a warm reception from the teachers whose faces lit up with joy as they approached him.

The figure that stood out the most in this welcoming committee was Sun Jian, the school principal. He swiftly made his way to Long Tian, his expression radiating enthusiasm and pleasure.

"Long Tian, as expected of a genius! Your success was predictable!" he praised, a gleam of delight in his eyes.

Long Tian responded with a smile, "Well, all those tests were too easy, Headmaster. I was expecting more, but it's not bad," he commented.

Sun Jian nodded, his joyful smile still evident. "Alright, after passing the tests, you need to fill out some forms. You know, the imperial authorities are quite strict because we are the first public school to participate in the qualification tests," he explained, guiding Long Tian towards a desk.

Long Tian simply followed Sun Jian and soon stood in front of a table where documents and a pen were neatly arranged.

He efficiently filled out the required forms. On the other side, Sun Jian gazed at Long Tian with a satisfied smile. He wasn't just happy about Long Tian's success in the qualification test; he saw Long Tian as the school's greatest hope in the upcoming event.

If Long Tian were to become the champion, it would be a tremendous achievement for Tianzhou High School. Not only would the school gain recognition, but in the following years, it might have the opportunity to participate in the survival competition again and potentially enter other prestigious competitions.

Now, Long Tian had finished filling out all the necessary documents. With a simple gesture of placing the pen on the table, he turned to look at Sun Jian.

"Well, I'm done. Can I go home now?" he asked.

"Of course, now that you've completed all the tests, you're free to go. Enjoy this one-week break, and please do your best when the survival competition begins," Sun Jian responded with sincerity.

"Don't worry, Headmaster. I will came out as the winner in that competition," Long Tian confidently declared with a grin on his face.

Sun Jian's smile widened with genuine joy. "I will certainly support you," he assured.

Long Tian smiled and, without further words, walked out of the room.

Outside, the teachers wore happy expressions, pleased with the fact that two students had passed the qualification tests. However, among them, Ning Yuan's expression differed, reflecting displeasure and concern.

It had been over a week since Qin Chen went missing, and she had no idea of his whereabouts. Even Shen Yulan and Li Yan seemed to have vanished.

Unable to shake off her worry, Ning Yuan bit her nails, thinking, 'Where are you, Qin Chen? Don't you want to participate in the survival competition? I hope nothing bad has happened to you.'

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Meanwhile, in another part of Tianzhou, a car came to a stop on a busy street. Firefighters were extinguishing a fire, and the road showed signs of destruction from a recent clash between two cultivators.

Inside the car, a bodyguard, dressed in black, was driving. Li Yue'er and Lin Yan sat in the back seat.

"It looks like there's an issue ahead on the road, young lady. Should we turn back and find another restaurant?" the bodyguard inquired.

Hearing this, Li Yue'er didn't respond immediately. Instead, she glanced outside the car. Then, her gaze landed on a place with the sign "Feixiang Restaurant."

"Oh, there's a restaurant there. Let's go there," she said, pointing to the right side of the street.

The bodyguard shifted his attention to where Li Yue'er pointed. He nodded and said, "Alright, young lady."

With that, he maneuvered the car and entered the area of the restaurant. Efficiently parking the car, he turned off the engine.

Turning to face Li Yue'er and Lin Yan, the bodyguard spoke, "I'll be outside keeping watch, young lady."

Li Yue'er nodded, and with that, she and Lin Yan exited the car. They walked together into the restaurant.

From the outside, the restaurant looked luxurious, constructed with white marble and displaying the Michelin sign.

Upon opening the door, the delightful aroma of food greeted them. Lin Yan, especially, seemed amazed by the enticing smell.

Li Yue'er, noticing Lin Yan's expression, smiled. "You can order anything you want here; don't hesitate if you have any cravings," she said, her tone assuring.

Hearing this, Lin Yan felt a touch of emotion. It was her first time in a restaurant, as she typically relied on street food since the money she had was usually spent on medicine for her father.

Li Yue'er suddenly took her hand, saying, "Let's sit, Lin Yan."

Lin Yan nodded and then walked to the available seats. In no time, a waiter approached, presenting the menu with a polite gesture.

They opened the menu and made their selections. The waiter promptly took note of their choices, and there were four dishes chosen by Lin Yan and two by Li Yue'er.

"Is that all?" the waiter asked.

"Yes," Li Yue'er responded.

"Alright, please wait," the waiter said, sporting a friendly smile.

Li Yue'er nodded, and with that, the waiter left.

Li Yue'er wasn't particularly hungry since she had already had breakfast, but for Lin Yan's sake, she didn't mind having another meal.

Her attention then shifted to Lin Yan. "I'll be going to the restroom for a moment. Is it okay if you wait here for a bit?" she asked.

"It's alright, sister Yue'er," Lin Yan responded.

Li Yue'er smiled and then stood up, making her way to the restroom.

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With every passing second, more people entered the restaurant.

Li Yue'er came out of the restroom and started heading back towards the dining area. However, her steps were abruptly halted as a familiar voice called out from behind.

"Li Yue'er, is that you?"

Turning around, Li Yue'er recognized the voice—it was Lin Fan. Her eyebrows furrowed, recalling the conflict between Lin Fan and Long Tian. Without saying a word, she turned away, attempting to walk towards the exit.

But Lin Fan swiftly blocked Li Yue'er's path, standing directly in front of her. His expression shifted to astonishment, not expecting Li Yue'er to be so beautiful up close.

Li Yue'er's eyebrows furrowed even deeper, and she spoke with an irritated tone, "What are you doing? Move aside."

However, Lin Fan remained undeterred, a sly grin on his face. "Come on, Li Yue'er, we're friends, right? Why be so cold? What if we have a meal together here?" he suggested, his persistent smile unwavering.

"No need," Li Yue'er responded curtly, trying to bypass Lin Fan and leave the restroom area.

Undeterred by her refusal, Lin Fan chuckled. "Alright, alright, no need to be so serious. How about this? I heard about a fantastic place called the Heavenly Demon sect. Ever heard of it? I thought we could check it out together," he proposed playfully.

Upon hearing this, Li Yue'er raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. "What would you do there?" she inquired.

Lin Fan's eyes lit up with enthusiasm. "You know, I just secured an opportunity to access what they call the sacred pool there. If we go together, it promises to be an extraordinary experience," he explained.

Li Yue'er gently stroked her chin. The sacred pool in the Heavenly Demon sect... A smirk played on her lips; this information could prove valuable if she shared it with Long Tian.

"Well, that does sound like a fascinating experience, and, naturally, I decline, especially with you," she responded, her smile carrying a playful tone.

Without uttering another word, she promptly departed, leaving Lin Fan behind.

Lin Fan's expression darkened in surprise, not anticipating Li Yue'er's cold rejection.

In the end, he sighed and departed as well. Thankfully, he had finished his meal.

"Visit some casinos, and then head to the Heavenly Demon sect... A perfect agenda," he contemplated as he walked out of the restaurant.

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Over three hours had elapsed in a specific location within Tianzhou – the office of the Tianjia Pavilion on the third floor. Long Tian was currently in the room with a man in his forties, distinguished by a thick beard and mustache. This man was no ordinary individual; he was Ji Gungyo, a renowned archaeologist whom Long Tian had encountered during his inspection of the Tianjia Pavilion's development.

Prominently displayed on the table was a hand-sized crystal with a brown hue – a discovery Long Tian had made during the sand giant attack in Tianhai.

Ji Gungyo carefully picked up and examined the crystal, his curiosity evident. "Young master, where did you acquire this crystal?" he earnestly inquired.

"Just enlighten me on what you know about it," Long Tian responded.

Ji Gungyo scrutinized the crystal once more and conveyed, "The minerals within it, the texture, and the weight of this object... This is the first time I've encountered something like it, as if... It doesn't originate from this world."

Long Tian, upon hearing this revelation, maintained his composure. He had already harbored suspicions, seeking confirmation. In Lei Guang's memory, the crystal served as some kind of key destined to be exceptionally useful during the restoration of reiki.

That, at least, was anticipated to unfold in the coming months.

"Well, Mr. Ji Gungyo, it's been a pleasure meeting you. Unfortunately, we must part ways as I have pressing matters today," Long Tian explained.

Ji Gungyo nodded, "Likewise, young master. If you ever need information regarding ancient artifacts, feel free to contact me," he offered.

Long Tian acknowledged the gesture, and with that, they went their separate ways.

As Ji Gungyo returned to his own affairs, Long Tian positioned himself near the window, observing the robust machinery diligently constructing the building.

A contented smile adorned his face, oblivious to the fact that the Tianjia Pavilion had already become his, setting the stage for significant developments.

After a brief contemplation while standing by the window, he gracefully exited the room. Today, he has to visit the Heavenly Demon sect.